Quick Hits: Braves, Leyland, Soriano, Phillies, Rays

Depending on what happens with Michael Bourn, the Braves could potentially have two major holes to fill in their lineup. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) offers some suggestions for replacing Bourn and Chipper Jones and notes that the club could have some added flexibility if Martin Prado can be shifted from left field to third base. Ben Revere of the Twins, Peter Bourjos of the Angels, and Chris Young of the Diamondbacks could all be trade targets in center field. There aren't a lot of great third base options on the open market but Atlanta could zero in on guys like Mike Olt of the Rangers, Chase Headley of the Padres, and maybe even the Mets David Wright. Here's more from around baseball..

Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been telling people in recent days that he has no plans to retire, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Given his desire to return, it's likely that Leyland will be managing the Tigers in 2013. Leyland's contract expires at the end of the season.

Even though he has been linked the Marlins opening, Mike Lowell tells Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that he has no interest in managing at this point in his life. The former third baseman is currently working for the MLB Network as an on-air analyst.

The Yankees' desire to keep their payroll under $189MM in 2014 could complicate their chances to sign Rafael Soriano to a long-term deal once he opts out, writes Heyman. Soriano's three-year, $35MM deal seemed like a stretch last year but it now seems like the Bombers view the possibility of a last year at $14MM more favorably than the right-hander.

The members of the Philadelphia Daily News staff bring us their suggestions for retooling the club heading into 2013. David Murphy believes that Ruben Amaro & Co. should start by revamping the bullpen while Marcus Hayes writes that the club should stick to making small moves while allowing the younger players to flourish.

That’s aiming awful high on just about every one of those Braves suggestions. I’d like just about any of them to be on the team, but I’m not a big fan of having some money come off the books only to spend it immediately. And I’m still iffy on whether Wren would pay out big time prospects to acquire new guys through trades.

I think if it was a guy like Headley or say Justin Upton he’d give up the prospects. He seemed pretty willing to part with them for Dempster. I think Wren is definitely open to dealing, he just won’t give up the farm for one guy like it has been done in the past.

Like I said in my post to BobOfArslan, they need to solve their situation before they can consider Hunter. What people don’t seem to get is how bad Wells deal is, 42 million for the next 2 seasons and he is a bench player?, but Bourjous is a great player, and to have him on the bench is a real shame.

Anyway, if I’m the Angels I’m desperately looking for some left handed bats. To me, I’d go after Chase Headley to play 3B who switch hits instead of focusing on Hunter, and stay with Morales at DH who also switch hits. That means trading Mark Trumbo and others for Chase Headley, put Trout in RF, Bourjous in CF, and Wells in LF

I mean seriously the Angels have Vernon Wells, Mark Trumbo, Peter Bourjous, Mike Trout, and Kendrys Morales. What’s the plan? Release Vernon Wells who is owed 42 million the next two seasons, keep benching Bourjous, what they have unlimited funds to do all that even after not winning?

They need to make some trades, and nobody wants Wells, and Morales is clearly a DH, but Trumbo needs to play. I can’t think about why would the Angels further complicate their situation by signing Hunter to 12-13 million per year at age 37

At the time, the Rays had a wealth of mediocre catchers who they thought could fill the void behind the plate. They had Jose Molina, Robinson Chirinos, and Jose Loboton. They had a bullpen in shackles, and Lueke had a good arm that they thought would flourish, so they pulled the trigger. I loved the deal for the M’s at the time, and it sure did pay off. Jaso had a nice year in ’12

run producer you say? using batting avg to back up your numbers you say? I would take Chriis Young for center in a heart beat. Great defender, steals bases, hits for power. who cares what his batting avg is. He’d put up 3.5 WAR in that park for half of Bourn’s wages…. heck, I wouldn’t mind going a little faster and picking up Pagan for left either. OF D would remain stellar, and we would have some speed throughout the lineup. with the money saved by only dropping $16mill for Pagan and Young, the team could send Delgado/Teheran (and some parts) to the Rays for Shields and have this rotation next year:

Shields
Medlen
Hudson
Minor
Maholm/Hanson

They could then decide to trade Maholm or Hanson and build up the farm again.

Not to mention that when Beachy returns, right before the trade deadline, they would have either Maholm or Hanson to trade then as well.

RISP isn’t a skill….. RBI’s a product of your fellow players getting on base. “Clutch Hitters” are a proven myth…. The Braves problem was that they were young, and young batters are streaky. Adding “run producers ” as you call them (overpaid free agents with an RBI history) aren’t going to do much but drain the payroll. This team gets on base plenty, you add two more good defenders in the OF who are excellent baserunners in Pagan and Young(plus Young’s 20 HR pop) and the team would be excellent.

If Pagan and Young and Prado produce as they usually do, you are looking at around 13-16 WAR from those spots plus Prado at 3rd. (this year the Braves got 15 from those 3 spots, and I bet Bourn never tops 4 WAR again). and Young and Pagan will cost around $16mill total. That’s good value, is smart, and doesn’t handcuff future payroll.

The Braves have a lot of money to spend. Those two guys will not make the team any better than it was this year. The braves need a legit middle of the order hitter. They lacked one this year, and will handcuff them again if they go into the season going cheap.

They don’t have as much money as you think, they have to pay arb to Heyward,Hanson,O’Flaherty,Venters,Prado. The braves forum I’m on ,we figured they have around $25-$28 mill to spend depending on if the team payroll goes up. and that includes the bench and bullpen situations.(and this assumes,Huddy,Maholm and Mac’s options are picked up).

so if you want to overpay for Swisher (or trade for your mythic “run producer” ) just know that there won’t be a whole heck of a lot of $$$ left for CF.

This isn’t a video game, you aren’t gonna trade your struggling stars (Uggla) for another teams performing stars (Kinsler, like you suggested earlier). Good GM’s also don’t create need by trading filled positions (like say 2B) Uggla was 7th in WAR at 2b this season, if that isn’t good enough for you, may I suggest becoming a Yankees fan….

On a team with a middle of the road payroll like the Braves, you have to maximize value. Pagan and Young spread their value over their defense (well Pagan would in LF) baserunning and hitting. True neither is some “big name” that gets the casual fans all excited, but when you consider that we could get 10 WAR out of them for a combined $16mill or so, that’s smart. That’s using your payroll dollar to it’s full value.

1. He refuses to play 3B
2. Way too costly, prospects and cash
3. Completely unneccesary
4. The most untouchable player on the Rockies
5. Has not trade clause, publicly stated he will reject all trades to east coast teams

Somewhat serious. SV is cheaper than Bourn and less of a long term commitment. Young will not require an overpay and can cover Turner’s big CF. The Figgins proposal is semi-serious. Uggla is going to become an albatross in a hurry; perhaps he can remake himself in the AL as a DH.

I think the Braves will probably go towards free agency for 3B. 3 guys (Rolen, Reynolds, and Youkilis) all have their good and bads, but their all righties, which will help balance their lefty lineup.

Not a Braves fan, actually a Phils fan, but they have guys who can hit at every position, no need to get a great 3B. As for CF I hope they sign Bourn. That way, the Phillies can’t and will get a more fitting player like Angel Pagan.

I like the Olt idea. Similar to what the Mariners/Yankees did last year, trade Olt for a young controllable pitcher of same caliber. Seems like a win/win. Olt is blocked by Beltre. And Texas will be in need of SP.

That doesn’t make sense for the Rangers. If they want a catcher, they can sign Napoli, or wait until their top C prospect comes up (I forget his name, but he’s top 5 in their system). That being said, why would you essentially give up Kinsler for Uggla? I understand why Andrus could be considered expendable, but they have to get value back.

It may be a good idea to check in on the Castellanos to OF experiment in Detroit also, another 3B blocked by the major league team (Miggy). But Teheran for Olt still sounds better.

Napoli is a free agent and will cost more if they want to resign him. McCann is going to be a career DH soon anyway. Uggla will thrive in Arlington. Teheran/Delgado will help them with good young pitching.

I don’t mind Olt, just don’t see why they would trade him now when they were reluctant to trade him for Greinke.

Rangers need a proven ace right now. They have zero #1 starters in their rotation. Greinke is still young and in his prime. Teheran or Delgado will not pay immediate dividends for the Rangers next year.

Dude. Greinke is a free agent going into the off season this year. Do you understand that there was no guarantee he would stay with Texas if they gave up Olt for him? Just like there is no guarantee he will stay with Anaheim after this year.

The better option, which is still available, is to sign him in free agency, if they really want Greinke. IF they do that, Olt is still blocked by Beltre, which brings me back to initial suggestion with Teheran.

Valid point but I just don’t see why they would trade Olt right now even for Teheran or Delgado. They are potentially losing Hamilton, so they want to make sure they keep some young talented player with power. With Young’s decline and Andrus potentially being available for trade this off season, I don’t think they will trade Olt unless it is for a proven starter. As a Braves fan, I would love to see this trade happen but I doubt it.

Where are you getting that Kinsler is available for trade?! That’s totally absurd! He signed a 75m extension that keeps him with the team until 2017 with an option for 2018. Why would Texas extend him if they want to trade him?

But back to the point… Olt is a 3B. Beltre is signed until 2015 with an option for 2016. Olt is essentially blocked at his position unless they move him to the outfield, which is not impossible.. or they DH him, which is a waste of value.

I’m not saying they can’t move him for an established ace, but I think the more prudent thing to do would be to get a close to mlb level pitching prospect that is cheap and under control for years to come.

Because they can always get an established ace through free agency without giving up prospects (Greinke, Haren, Peavy, etc…)

Does Soriano really think he is gonna top 14M this offseason??? With his health inconsistancies I wouldn’t pay him a dime over 11M and even then it would be 3 years tops. If Soriano wants year security maybe they can work out something like that where he gets 11 or so over a few more years.

If the Braves want to go cheaper on a 3rd base option, they could look into trading for Matt Carpenter from the Cardinals. As a Cards fan, I think he’s pretty good and I doubt he would be that expensive